Objective To in ve stigate the effects of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on matrix metallop roteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity and its mRNA expression in renal cortex of rats. Methods Diabetic model of rats was induced by s treptozotocin. AGEs were prepared by incubation of rat serum protein with 0.5 mo l/L glucose. AGEs was administered intravenously to normal rats (AGEs group), an d native rat serum protein was given as negative control (negative group) and no rmal rats without treatment were as control (control group). AGEs content in ren al cortex and serum was quantified by ELISA, MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA expressions were examined by RT-PCR and MMP-2 activity was measured by zymography. Results AGEs content increased significantly, MMP-2 mRNA expression descended and TIMP-2 mRNA expression ascended in renal cortex o f diabetic rats (all P

Humans ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive ; Acupuncture Therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is a highly effective anti-tumor method. However, when laser radiation was used to ablate tumors, it usually triggers a series of inflammatory reactions, promoting the further development of tumors and affecting the effect of anti-tumor therapy. Therefore, it is an effective method to improve the anti-tumor effect by suppressing the inflammatory response through the precise targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory drug while realizing the photothermal treatment of tumors. To this end, the redox-responsive linker 3,3'-dithiodipropionic acid was used to bond the classic hydrophobic anti-inflammatory drug 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18β-GA) and the hydrophilic fragment methoxy-polyethylene glycol (mPEG-NH₂) to obtain redox-responsive amphiphilic polymer PEG-DA-GA in this study. Then, photothermal agent IR-780 was encapsulated to prepare redox-responsive polymer micelle PDG/IR-780 NPs. The PDG/IR-780 NPs exhibited uniform particle size of 80.2 ± 5.3 nm and the polydispersity index (PDI) was 0.215 ± 0.079. All animal experiments followed the ethical requirements formulated by the Ethics Committee of Sichuan University. The results showed that PDG/IR-780 NPs could respond to the abundant glutathione (GSH) in tumor cells to promote the disintegration of nanoparticle and the release of 18β-GA, thus significantly improved the killing efficiency on 4T1 cells, when compared with the non-redox-responsive control PSG/IR-780 NPs. When the concentration of 18β-GA was 50 μg·mL^-1, the cell viability of 4T1 cells in the PDG/IR-780 NPs group was only (19.29 ± 1.80) %, which was significantly lower than the result of in PSG/IR-780 NPs group (29.30 ± 1.37) %. The results of frozen sections of tumor tissues showed that the designed PDG NPs can promote the tumor-targeted distribution of drugs compared with the free drug group. Eventually, PDG/IR-780 NPs achieved wonderful anti-tumor efficacy on 4T1 triple-negative breast cancer model, revealing the new possibility of the combined therapy strategy of photothermal and anti-inflammatory therapy.

OBJECTIVEChina began providing antiretroviral therapy to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in 2003. This study was to investigate the living conditions, including quality of life and happiness, and need for palliative care of end-of-life PLWHA in rural Henan.

METHODSOne hundred end-of-life AIDS patients were selected from Weishi, Zhenping and Tanghe counties in Henan, using convenience sampling. The World Health Organization Quality of Life for HIV (WHOQOL-HIV) BREF Chinese Version was used to measure the quality of life and the Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH) was employed to measure subjective welfare. Qualitative interviews and focus group discussions were undertaken to learn about the palliative care provided and the specific needs of the end-of-life patients.

RESULTSPatients' overall quality of life was moderate (12.62±1.97). Highest scores were in the spirituality/religion/personal beliefs, higher than the average scores in the Chinese population (P<0.01), while psychological (13.58±2.06) and environment (12.50±3.28) domain scores were similar to the latter (P>0.05). Both independence (12.15±2.15) and physiological (14.04±3.16) domain scores were lower than the average of the people living with HIV/AIDS in other studies (P<0.01); however, all were in the moderate range. The average MUNSH score was 21.00±6.20, which was also moderate. The in-depth interviews indicated that the Henan Provincial Government's policy of treatment and care had a beneficial impact on end-of-life AIDS patients, although the care components could be improved.

CONCLUSIONSLiving conditions of the end-of-life AIDS patients were moderate, and the HIV/AIDS palliative care model used was beneficial to them. Care could be improved by assisting the family unit as a whole.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; psychology ; therapy ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Blood Donors ; psychology ; China ; Critical Illness ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; psychology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Palliative Care ; standards ; Plasma Exchange ; statistics & numerical data ; Quality of Health Care ; Quality of Life ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To investigate the level and clinical significance of D-dimer(D-D) and fibrinogen(Fib) in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.Methods The 83 patients with first-episode schizophrenia from March 2014 to December 2016 were selected as the study group,meanwhile 58 healthy subjects without mental illness and major somatic diseases were selected as control group.Two groups of subjects were collected from fasting sodium citrate anticoagulated plasma to detect level of D-D and Fib.Resuits The level of D-D in the first-episode schizophrenia group was(240.42±245.78)μg/L,which was significantly higher than that in the control group(76.53±71.25)μg/L,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).While the level of Fib in the first-episode schizophrenia group (2.62 ± 0.49) g/L was significantly lower than that of the control group (2.87 ± 0.65) g/L,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The increase in D-D levels and the reduction in Fib levels in patients with firstepisode schizophrenia were not related to gender.Conclusion he patients with first-episode schizophrenia in acute stage may have hypercoagulable status and secondary fibrinolysis.

Objective To observe the effect of small doses of thrombin inhibitor(Shuxuetong injection)on the absorption of hematoma and the volume of low-density areas in acute stage of cerebral hemorrhage.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with acute cerebral hemorrhage,admitted to our hospital from February 2004 to April 2009,were randomly divided into treatment and control groups (n=60).The treatment group was treated with routine western medicine combined with thrombin inhibitor (Shuxuetong injection)4 mL dairy intravenously for 15 consecutive d.CT scan was employed to evaluate the hematomas volume and changes of low-density areas 7 and 21 d after the treatment.Results The volume of hematomas in the treatment group(17.8±2.1 mL,8.2±2.1 mL)reduced significantly as compared with that in the control group(21.3±1.6 mL,15.1±1.2 mL)on the 7~(th) and 21~(st) d(P<0.05).The volume of low-density area in the treatment group(1.433 mm)was significantly reduced as compared with that in the control group(3.041 mm,P<0.05).Conclusion Small doses of thrombin inhibitor (Shuxuetong injection)can promote the absorption of hematoma,reduce the volume of low-density areas surrounding hematomas in acute stage of cerebral hemorrhage.

Objective To discuss the clinical application and efficacy of digitization prototyping titanium meshes in the repairing of earthquake-induced skull defect. Methods The clinical data of 66patients with skull defect caused by earthquake were analyzed. These patients were divided into group A (treated with traditional handwork shaping titanium meshes, n=1S) and group B (treated with digitization prototyping titanium meshes, n=51). The efficacy and complications were compared.Results Compared to group A, group B had a shorter operation time, a shorter recovery time, a lower postoperative incidence rate of subcutaneous hematocele, hydrops and infection (P＜0.05). The digitization prototyping titanium meshes were significantly superior to handwork shaping titanium meshes (P＜0.05). And patients with skull defect repaired at early stage had a higher recovery rate of neurological function than those at advanced stage (P＜0.05). Conclusion Using digitization prototyping titanium meshes to repair the skull defect can enjoy anatomical reduction, shortened operation time, and fewer postoperative complications. In addition, an early repair in earthquake-induced skull defect can not onlydisburden patients' mind, but also prevent or even reverse secondary brain damage of skull defect,therefore, the patients' neurological function can be improved and their lives can be better.

OBJECTIVETo verify whether abnormal expression of calcium/calmodulin dependent serine protein kinase (CASK) and inhibitors of differentiation 1 (ID1) exist in Fb of keloid, and to observe the effect of artesunate on two genes.

METHODSFifteen samples of keloid and 12 samples of normal skin tissue (discarded) excised from patients admitted to our hospital were collected. Tissue particle adherent method was used in the primary culture of Fb, and cells from the third to the eighth passage were used for test. Expressions of CASK and ID1 in Fb harvested from both sources were observed with immunofluorescence staining. Fb of keloid were stimulated with artesunate in various concentration for different time, and the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined with the MTT colorimetric assay, which served as the intervention concentration of artesunate. Fb of normal skin were set as normal control group (NC, treated with medium solution). Fb of keloid were divided into scar control group (SC, treated with medium solution) and scar administration group (SA, treated with artesunate in IC50). The cycle and apoptosis of Fb were detected with flow cytometric assay, and the nucleic acid and protein expressions of CASK and ID1 of Fb in each group were determined with RT-PCR and Western blotting. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and LSD-t test.

RESULTSExpressions of CASK and ID1 were detected in two kinds of Fb. The concentration of 75 mg/L was selected as the intervention concentration of artesunate. (1) There were statistically significant differences among the three groups in the percentages of cells in G0/G1 phase and G2/M phase (with F values respectively 118.064 and 163.840, P values all below 0.01). The percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase of group SA was (91.4 ± 1.4)%, which was significantly higher than that of group SC and group NC [respectively (80.7 ± 0.3)% and (82.4 ± 0.6)%, with t values respectively 12.740 and 9.872, P values all below 0.05]. The percentage of cells in G2/M phase of group SA was (6.9 ± 0.3)%, which was significantly lower than that of group SC and group NC [respectively (13.7 ± 0.3)% and (12.7 ± 0.8)%, with t values respectively 43.702 and 12.276, P values all below 0.05]. (2) There were statistically significant differences among the three groups in the early and late apoptotic rates (with F values respectively 61.879 and 4710.862, P values all below 0.01). The early and late apoptotic rates of group SA were respectively (7.1 ± 1.0)% and (14.9 ± 0.3)%, which were significantly higher than those of group SC and group NC [with early apoptotic rate respectively (2.6 ± 0.4)% and (2.7 ± 0.3)%, t values respectively 7.974 and 7.767, P values all below 0.05; with late apoptotic rate respectively (2.3 ± 0.3)% and (2.5 ± 0.4)%, t values respectively 72.882 and 69.792, P values all below 0.05]. (3) The mRNA expression of CASK in group SC was 0.658 ± 0.024, and it was lower than that of group NC (1.076 ± 0.008, t = 28.997, P < 0.01) and group SA (0.855 ± 0.008, t = 13.549, P < 0.01). The protein expression of CASK in group SC was 0.067 ± 0.007, and it was lower than that of group NC (0.179 ± 0.015, t = 12.042, P < 0.01) and group SA (0.132 ± 0.010, t = 9.498, P < 0.01). (4) The mRNA expression of ID1 in group SC was 0.416 ± 0.006, which was higher than that of group NC (0.317 ± 0.020, t = 8.299, P < 0.01) and group SA (0.217 ± 0.009, t = 32.417, P < 0.01). The protein expression of ID1 in group SC was 0.789 ± 0.034, and it was higher than that of group NC (0.366 ± 0.029, t = 16.341, P < 0.01) and group SA (0.114 ± 0.006, t = 33.978, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIt is speculated that CASK and ID1 participate in the proliferation of Fb in keloid. The mechanism of artesunate in inhibiting the proliferation of Fb in keloid may be related to the up-regulation of CASK and down-regulation of ID1.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Guanylate Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical importance of titanium mesh cage (TMC) in anterior instrumentation for scoliosis.

METHODSThirty-six consecutive patients with thoracolumbar/lumbar adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were treated with anterior derotation and instrumentation using autologous bone grafting and TMC for interbody fusion. The average age of patients was 17 years (ranged from 14 to 22 years), in which 5 cases were male and 31 cases were female.

RESULTSThe coronal Cobb angle before surgery, 2 weeks after surgery, and 13 months at the follow-up was measured as 56 degrees , 15 degrees , and 18 degrees respectively, while the thoracic kyphosis from T(5) to T(12) was 30 degrees , 33 degrees , and 37 degrees respectively, and the lumbar lordosis from L(1) to S(1) was 46 degrees , 56 degrees , 51 degrees . There were no death, infection, implant failures or collapse of intervertebral space. Intraoperative injury of lacteal occurred in one patient, but no postoperative complications happened. One of two patients who had pleural effusion was managed with close drainage. Exudative pleurisy occurred in one patient, the sympathectomy effect occurred in three patients who presented asymmetry of skin temperature and resolved in short term.

CONCLUSIONSCoronal and sagittal alignment can be well corrected and maintained with TMC in anterior scoliosis surgery, collapse of intervertebral space and lumbar kyphosis can be prevented.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Orthopedic Fixation Devices ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; instrumentation ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Titanium

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; enzymology ; Glutathione ; blood ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood